Street parties, torch light parades, mini Olympics, barbecues – South Ayrshire's communities are gearing up for the once in a lifetime moment when the Olympic Torch passes through the area on Friday 8 June.
Plans are afoot for communities to come together to mark the momentous occasion, with some areas presenting commemorative medals to local school children, and others arranging transport for residents to see the Olympic Torch procession for themselves as it follows its historic route through South Ayrshire.
Following the announcement that the Olympic Torch will arrive in South Ayrshire at Ballantrae at 7.06am on Friday 8 June and will then be carried through Girvan, Turnberry, Maidens, Kirkoswald, Maybole, Alloway and Ayr, South Ayrshire Council offered funding of up to £500 to support events and activities organised by local community councils in a bid to welcome the Olympic Torch to the area. Sixteen community councils applied for funding and are planning a host of exciting and memorable events for local children and other residents, with all events taking place between 1 and 17 June 2012.
The night before the Olympic Torch arrives in South Ayrshire, Symington will hold an Olympic Fancy Dress Parade through the village, with an Olympic Sports Day organised by the local bowling club afterwards. Dunure Community Council is also organising a torch light and lantern parade, with barbecue to follow.
Mini Olympics are being held throughout the area for local school children, with the Dundonald games, which will have an official opening and closing ceremony, being organised along with the Dundonald Junior Community Council. Coylton and Annbank children will be presented with commemorative medals at their mini Games at Coylton School, while Crosshill, Straiton and Kirkmichael Community Council has commissioned mementoes for their local school children, as well as some sports equipment that will be used in their Games.
Prestwick North Community Council will be holding Olympic themed sporting events and activities within the area, and Barrhill Community Council plans to transport children to take part in Girvan's mini Olympics, with commemorative medals being given to their local youngsters.
The Olympic Torch will be passing through Maybole and the local community council is marking the occasion with its own Olympic event for the full cluster of schools in Carrick, with sports equipment being gifted to the schools afterwards.
The morning of Friday 8 June will be an early start for hundreds of people as they try to get the best position to see the Olympic Torch. Carrick Community Council Forum will be holding an Olympic breakfast for the many children and their families who will be travelling to Girvan to see the Torch as it is carried through the town. Bunting, banners and cheering crowds will welcome the Torch to Girvan at 7.36am. It will then be carried by a relay of eight Torchbearers before leaving the town at 8am. Local school children will be presented with commemorative wristbands to remember the day.
The community councils of Ballantrae, Pinwhery and Pinmore, Colmonell and Lendalfoot will be arranging transport for locals to see the Olympic Torch Relay, as well as breakfast for family members. The children of Monkton will be presented with commemorative medals at their primary school's mini Olympics.
Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown community councils will be active on the day too with the Boy's Brigade pipe band providing entertainment along the route the Olympic Torch will follow. Olympic teaching resources are being given to local nurseries, and trophies presented at mini Olympic Games within the schools in that area too.
South Ayrshire Provost Helen Moonie said: "We are overwhelmed by the excitement that is building through our communities as they gear up to welcome the Olympic Torch to South Ayrshire. Our community councils have excelled themselves to make the occasion one for everyone to remember and we know Friday 8 June is going to be a huge day of celebration for the many thousands of people who line our streets to support the Olympic Torch Relay."
For information on the Torch relay route, viewing points and traffic information, log on to www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/olympictorchrelay.